D.C. Sports Bog: October 4, 2009 - October 10, 2009

When Hunter Hobson was on the ground in Iraq, he didn't have much time for triathlon training. Like, none. "I was living in a Humvee and eating MREs every day and didn't shower for 30 days," he explained this week. "No opportunity in that environment to train at all." Even...

With all the questions about whether the Skins have too much talent to be playing like this, or are actually playing up to their talent level, I figured I should ask some people who actually spend their time breaking down game tape. First up: ESPN analyst Merril Hoge. I told...

This is all sorts of a cheap shot, I guess, but it's also pretty dang funny. It comes via @ExtraEyes, which also might be the best Twitter name I've ever heard. And as long as I'm being negative just this once, here are a few recent fan sites that...

Maybe these quotes are all saying the same thing, I don't know. I just hit record and then hit play and start typing. You be the judge. Here's what Jim Zorn said about the Sherm Lewis hiring, according to the Insider: "It's not something that I was looking for initially....

A contribution from WaPo radio reporter Paul Farhi Washington's great sports-talk radio war is starting to resemble the Battle of Verdun--a long, bloody standoff with the advantage measured in tiny increments. After two three months of head-to-head yakking, Dan Snyder-owned ESPN 980 and CBS-owned WJFK-FM have failed to take much...

An Epic About The Redskins from Lil Bit Money Films on Vimeo. I challenge you to find a better five-minute summary of the past 12 days of Redskins fandom that includes humorous floating cut-out heads of Danny Smith and Clinton Portis, among others. It was made by Mike from Burke...

Stan Kasten was a guest on Versus's $ports Take with Rick Horrow Tuesday night before the Caps game. This was a night featuring Twins-Tigers, Wiz-Grizzlies, Caps-Flyers, and fantasy football waiver wires, so it's possible you missed the segment. The biggest disappointment was the word-association game they played included Ted Turner,...

More unlucky fans. (By Richard A. Lipski - TWP) Stephen Krupin and his father have had Nats season tickets since the team's inaugural season in 2005. Like most season ticket holders, they don't make it to every game. This year, Stephen--a 27-year old from Arlington--went to 19, or about...

(2002 photo by Tom Pidgeon - Getty)) "Oh my gosh, how awesome!" Rachel Zagaroli said, when I told her that one of her best bingo callers was now working as an NFL consultant in Washington. "I'm gonna have to send him a note and say, 'What is going on?'...

(By Steve Helber - AP) Way back in the Spring, I noted that DeShawn Stevenson was growing a ducktail, of the sort made famous (in the NBA) by noted Stevenson friend and sparring partner Drew Gooden. "He's mad," Stevenson said of Gooden. "[But] that's my boy." Stevenson wouldn't let...

(Courtesy ESPN The Magazine) Observations about this naked D.C. United photo from ESPN the Mag's upcoming Body Issue, in six parts. Get the magazine on newsstands Friday, assuming Ben Olsen doesn't follow through on his promise to burn up all the local issues. Bad Dreams "You always have that...

Continuing my role as the official stenographer of Redskins media appearances, here's the opening of Clinton Portis's press briefing today. File this under "enthusiastic endorsements," please. Feel free to watch at CSNWashington, if you want to get an up-close look at the enthusiasm. What do you make of this whole...

(By Toni L. Sandys - TWP) I know this has been mentioned a few times, but I wanted to put the full poll results from this week's Sports Illustrated up here. The magazine asked 296 NFL players who the league's most dominant defensive player is, and Albert Haynesworth won...

Old news, but new to me: in his postgame interview with Comcast SportsNet's Kelli Johnson, Jason Campbell said he thought he was probably playing for Jim Zorn's future in the second half of the Bucs game. Highlights of that interview: "We heard the boos on the first play," Campbell said....

Because one longtime Bog reader asked, here are some screenshots of Smokin Al Koken's television ad campaign for Thompson Creek Windows. He endorses the product, via the telestrator, used on himself, while he's watching Team USA play hockey. It's a pleasing campaign, to say the least....

I'd imagine Jim Zorn will discuss the Sherm Lewis hiring Wednesday afternoon, and I'd imagine he'll say he's in favor it. What's interesting is he was already sort of asked whether he was overworked on Tuesday's episode of Redskins Nation. At the time the show was taped, Vinny Cerrato had...

(1999 photo by Khue Bui - AP) The New York Times recently wrote a somewhat strange story about the Redskins with this bizarre headline: "Former Redskins Executive Likes Snyder's Newfound Patience." Bizarre, because none of Charley Casserly's quotes exactly praised Snyder. Or mentioned Snyder. Regardless, I think we can...

By John McDonnell - TWP A week ago, Clinton Portis was asked whether he was becoming a more vocal leader. He seemed to say that no, he was not. "We've got twenty people walking around the locker room with 'Hoo-rah' talks," he said. "You know, pumping guys up saying,...

Since it seemed to be something of a theme on Sunday, with Sonny calling for Jason Campbell to be benched and all, I was interested when the topic of benching Campbell was raised on ESPN 980's Jim Zorn Show Tuesday afternoon. "What would cause you to sort of make a...

Look, I'm no NFL talent evaluator. If I told you that the Redskins' talent ranked 6th in the NFL, or 28th in the NFL, or 82nd, you wouldn't believe me either way. Maybe the most sensible judgment would be to say that a 10-10 record over the past 20 games...

Cris Carter sometimes has his issues with the English language, and you can certainly poke fun at some of his phrasing in this breakdown of the Skins' win over Tampa. See Mister Irrelevant, for an example of that. But I'm not sure that his skill as an oratory should...

Chatting at 11:30. Submit questions here. In the meantime, here are a few numbers concerning the Caps and the Skins. Margin of Victory The Redskins' margin of victory in their two wins is a total of 5. The Caps' margin of victory in their two wins is a total of...

From the Let Teddy Win photostream. I was certainly among the least cheerful of Nats observers this season, and I'll blame that on no one but myself. Well, and whoever sewed the Natinals jerseys. And the timekeeper for that giant clock. And Daniel Cabrera. But I still believe in...

By Andrew Cameron - Reuters Listening to the post-game comments of Jason Campbell's teammates, two things seemed clear. 1) They want to see him unleash himself, for lack of a better word, and 2) They want him to know that he has their confidence. Dealing with the first point...

(By Larry French - Getty) I'm definitely veering unpleasantly toward the pit of negativity. I'm gonna try to work on that. Negativity has never been my shtick. Still, I thought these numbers were worth posting. Avert your eyes if you'd rather enjoy the beautiful sunlight. As has oft been...

If you look at the Redskins depth chart, even today, Chris Cooley is listed as the backup punter. Look, right above these words. There's no question about it. So the Hunter Smith injury on Sunday definitely, definitely should have allowed us to see what Cooley's got. And Cooley agreed,...

I've only been going to Skins games for four years. My historical knowledge is scant. But I can tell you for sure that the mood at the end of Sunday's first half was as defiant as I've seen. There was rage. There was dissent. It wasn't just the demagogues out...

(Image via RedskinsTV.com) Jim Zorn has the most expressive press conferences I've ever seen from an NFL coach, or from any coach in any sport. Here's a feature dedicated to those looks. Sunday's first question to Jim Zorn concerned whether he considered benching Jason Campbell after the QB's woeful...

Cooley celebrates his touchdown. (By Larry French - Getty) Before Sunday's game began, Sonny Jurgensen conducted his weekly pregame interview with Jim Zorn on ESPN 980 and the team's radio network. Sonny told Zorn that the Redskins should probably get off to a good start, because fans would get...

"Wins are wins, man," Shaun Suisham told Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom after he had helped punt and kick the Redskins to that 16-13 home victory. "It's exciting. Different from you guys, we only play once a week, we only play 16 games. So every win is crucial. So...